Energy Conversions

Sun shining on plants

Electromagnetic energy is converted into chemical energy of the ‘food’ made by the plant and also the ‘burnable’ plant material.

Car movingGasoline (chemical energy)

transfers to mechanical energy some electrical and much thermal energy.

Fan turning

• Electrical energy is converted to mechanical energy and thermal energy.

Persons running

• Chemical energy (food) is converted to mechanical energy and thermal energy.

Lamp shining.

• Electrical energy is converted to electromagnetic light waves and thermal energy.

All these colors are in visible white light.

Candle burning

• Chemical energy (wick and wax) are converted to electromagnetic light waves and thermal energy.

lipid

Dam and water

• Mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy and thermal energy.

toaster

• Electrical energy is converted to electromagnetic light waves and thermal energy.

Flowing river• Mechanical energy is

converted to thermal energy.

Water windmill

• Mechanical energy changes direction to continue mechanical energy but with the loss of thermal energy.

• Mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy and thermal energy.

Windmill turbine

Solar panels

• Electromagnetic energy is converted to electrical energy and thermal energy.

Our solar panels on Schweitzer.

Venus Fly Trap

• Electromagnetic energy is converted to chemical energy.

• Then chemical energy is converted to mechanical energy and thermal energy.

• Chemical energy from the food is converted to mechanical energy and thermal energy.

Animals running

Fish swimming

• Chemical energy from the food is converted to mechanical energy and thermal energy.

Tractor plowing field

• Chemical energy from the diesel is changed to mechanical energy and thermal energy.

Steam turbine

• Chemical energy of fuel converts to thermal energy that moves water into mechanical energy which turns magnets to move electrons (that is: make electrical energy) and thermal energy.

Airplane flying

Chemical energy (airplane fuel) is converted to mechanical energy and thermal energy.

Nuclear power plant

• Nuclear fission is converted to thermal energy which moves water (steam) as mechanical energy, which turns magnets to make electrical energy and thermal energy.

Fire fly or any other luminescent organism

• Chemical energy is converted into electromagnetic (light waves) and thermal energy.

Rechargeable batteries being recharged

• Electrical energy is being converted into some chemical energy and thermal energy….but not all the chemical reactants respond over time.

Old fashioned Saw MILL

• Mechanical energy from the river transfers in direction to continue mechanical energy and thermal energy.

Refrigerator

• Electrical energy is converted into mechanical energy and thermal energy.

• The pump ‘compresses’ the coolant so it can then ‘decompress’ under the refrigerator to release its heat that it pickup from the warm food we placed inside.

Flag blowing in wind

• Mechanical energy is converted to another material (mechanical) and releases some thermal energy.